Air traffic hit, Bangalore airport expansion delayed

Bangalore: The turbulence in the markets has reached the skies, as air traffic growth at airports across the country has slowed down and the Bangalore skies are no different with the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) too reflecting this trend.
According to airport sources, the economic downturn and high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) charges have resulted in traffic not picking up until late August and September. Usually, every year, May, June and July are considered low periods in the Indian airline industry, but this slowdown phase continuing till September has made it obvious that there is a decrease in air travel.
“The BIA began operations with 170 flights a day and will end the summer 2008 season with 162 flights a day. The winter 2008 flights will increase to 165 flights a day resulting in a growth of 1.5 per cent. Although domestic air traffic reflects a negative growth of 1.5 per cent, this overall positive growth in movement is due to the increase in international flight operations from Bangalore,” BIA officials told Express.
However, on the international front, in the last four-and-half-months since the commissioning of the airport in May, six new international carriers have been introduced and a total increase in international flights is said to be over 230 per cent as compared to last year’s winter schedule.
24/10/08 Hemanth CS/Express Buzz

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Categories: Airports Oct 2008